SNAKE

prologue

October 31st, 1981

Lily and James Potter knew what was coming. They knew Voldemort, the Dark Lord, was coming to Godric's Hollow at any moment. They could feel it.

"Go upstairs, Lily. Protect them, I'll try to hold him off" said James in a hurry, grabbing his wand and preparing for what was about to happen.

Lily was a brave woman, she nodded with determination to go upstairs and protect her children, but not before she grabbed James and gave him one final kiss. "Whatever happens, remember I love you. Always."

He struggled to let her go, knowing it would probably be the last time he saw her. "I love you, too. Go. Now."

She ran upstairs and locked herself in the bedroom where her children were, both looking at her with curiosity. "Everything will be okay", she whispered to them, but mostly trying to convince herself.

She suddenly heard a loud explosion, coming from the front door. He was here.

She looked at both her children and tears started falling on her cheeks. "Harry, mama loves you. Cora, dada loves you. You're both so loved. Be strong" she whispered, then stood up and turned around to face the door, standing protectively in front of her children's cribs.

As the door shot open, Lily tightened the grip on her wand and pointed it at him. There he stood, the most powerful dark wizard in the world, and he simply chuckled darkly at her.

"Move aside, silly girl. I just want them."

"No, please! Not my children!" she screamed desperately, tears falling all over her face.

Voldemort slightly turned his head to look at the children who were supposed to be his downfall, according to the prophecy. The boy looked so ordinary, nothing special about him. As he turned his eyes to the girl, it was as if time stopped. So much power emanating from her and it was mesmerizing to him. At that moment he was extremely glad to have listened to the prophecy and come to end even the smallest shreds of hope some had of his downfall. What a shame, having to get rid of such power and beauty, but only I can live forever, he thought.

Lily took advantage of the small moment of distraction and shot a spell towards the Dark Lord in attempt to protect herself and her children. He easily deflected it with a wave of his hand. Harry and Cora's eyes widened at the strong magic they didn't even understand, as Lily's eyes widened in fear.

"Stupid girl, you should not have done that." He raised his wand at her and roared "Avada Kedavra!" as Lily screamed, sacrificing herself for her children, and falling to the ground. Dead.

Lord Voldemort then took a small step towards the children, who were slightly crying for their mother, raising his wand once again. While Harry was still shedding tears looking at his mother, Cora turned her eyes towards the powerful wizard standing before her. She looked at him in wonder and smiled a little bit, making him curious about what was going through her head.

Before he could change his mind because of the powerful girl, he closed his eyes and took a sharp breath, reminding himself that he was there to ensure his power and eliminate the threat to it.

"Avada Kedavra"

As soon as the curse hit the children, it rebounded, vanquishing the Dark Lord. His soul was ripped apart once more and the pieces latched themselves into the only living things it could find: Harry and Coralina Potter, giving both of them a lightning bolt scar on their foreheads.

~

Albus Dumbledore stood in Privet Drive, waiting for Hagrid to arrive with the twins. He was sorrowful about the unfortunate loss of the Potter couple, but he knew it was bound happen after word of the prophecy had spread. Only he and very few people knew of the whole contents of it, and it worried him what could happen in the future if the twins were to ever find out about it. He had to be careful and watch them both; nevertheless, he decided to not worry about the matter until it was necessary.

"I should've known that you would be here, Professor McGonagall" he said to the cat sitting near him, as she then transformed into her human form.

"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore." She anxiously walked with him, "are the rumors true, Albus?"

"I'm afraid so, Professor. The good.. and the bad."

"And the children?"

"Hagrid is bringing them."

"Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"

"Ah, Professor. I would trust Hagrid with my life."

They both turned to the sound of a vehicle coming their way from the sky, landing with a screech. As Hagrid took off his goggles, he greeted them, "Professor Dumbledore, sir. Professor McGonagall."

"No problems, I trust, Hagrid?"

"No, sir. The boy fell asleep just as we were flying over Bristol and the girl 'as been awake the whole trip, but no cryin'. There ya go." He handed both to the professors.

"Albus, do you really think it's safe leaving them with these people? I've watched them all day, they're the worst sort of muggles imaginable! They really are!"

"The only family they have", Dumbledore cut her off.

"These children will be famous, there won't be a child in our world who doesn't know their names."

"Exactly. They're far better off, growing up away from all of that... until they are ready." Dumbledore said as both he and McGonagall put the calm children down on the doorstep of 4 Privet Drive.

Hagrid sniffled and cleaned a tear off his cheek. Both professors turned to him. "There, there, Hagrid", Dumbledore comforted him, "it's not really goodbye after all."

Dumbledore then turned towards the children once again and saw the girl looking at him with calm and curious eyes, slowly closing them and falling asleep. He bent down to put a letter on top of them, standing back straight and saying "good luck, Harry and Cora Potter."

Dumbledore knew leaving them there was his best option to keep them away from the prophecy and the fame that would always follow The Boy and The Girl Who Lived. In the care of their aunt and uncle, they would grow to be humble and would appreciate him, as their 'savior', and the wizarding world even more, shaping them to be true Gryffindors as their parents and some day fight against the inevitable return of the Dark Lord, despite of what the prophecy said.

~